Role of BAL cellularity in assessment of severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background/aimStudy the role of BAL cellularity in assessment of the degree of severity of IPF.MethodsForty IPF patients underwent, history taking, clinical examination, HRCT chest, ABGs, 6MWT, spirometry, echocardiography, FOB and BAL.ResultsNeutrophils were present in 28 patients, mean value 57.25 and SD ± 31.27. The second predominant cell was Alveolar Macrophages with mean value 24.25 and SD ± 27.828.HRCT pattern and BAL cellularity, showed the most predominant cell neutrophils in the ground glass and Honey combing on HRCT. There was no statistical significance between the sex and the BAL cellularity, the most predominant cell was neutrophils in both sexes. Corticosteroids did not have an effect on BAL cellularity and the predominant cell was neutrophils in IPF patients using steroids and those not. BAL cellularity in relation to treatment by azathioprine and/or acetlycysteine showed no statistical significance between patients using those drugs and those not, the most predominant cell was neutrophils in both groups.Correlation between BAL cellularity and age, showed no statistical significance but there was a negative correlation between age to neutrophils and lymphocytes. There was a negative correlation between neutrophils and PaCO2, PaO2, SO2, FVC%, FEV1 and 6MWT with no statistical significance but with significance to FEF25–75%.Macrophages showed a positive correlation with age, PaO2, 6MWT, FVC%, FEV1% with no statistical significance but with significance to SO2 and FEF25–75% and a negative correlation with PaCO2 and PASP.ConclusionThere was a positive correlation between neutrophils and severity of the disease and a negative correlation between Macrophages and severity of the disease. Most commonly used drugs did not show any effect on BAL cellularity.